The sky was ripped away from my retinas. It recced like a dirty, torn sunset, awash with browns and dull greys. Greens and summery oranges and yellows swirled into the mass of diminished monochrome. I could feel my skin slowly cooling from the discarded sun and my blood froze within my arteries. Is this dying? I think to myself as my muscles seize and collapse. As my nerves stop sending their impulses of pain. My body connects with the cold hard ground, my bones shattering and splintering into diamonds around my frame. It is so much darker now. Almost to the point of pitch black darkness.
Except there is a small light. Flickering like an ember it surges around with a trail like a comet. It’s a scarlet red, with a mixture of pale pinks and crimson. It’s staring at me where I lay in the coal. It blinks. Coming closer. It’s an eye, connected to a pale face. And there is the other one, grey just like the stone encrusting my skin.
“Hello” It whispers. “It’s me” That voice. Vaguely familiar. Like it could match my tongue instantly.
“You have to be strong for what is to come, Kaneki”
It’s not right. Who is this person…
Kaneki. Kaneki. Ken. Ken. That name. I have to remember that name!
--
“It’s brain waves are increasing!”
“It’s heart rate is gaining!”
“Life systems seem to be rebooting!”
“It’s waking up! Quick! Call Arima-san!”
Searing. The feel of my eyes as they crack open. It’s so bright. So painful. Where am I? Why is it so bright? My mouth doesn’t will to speak. I can’t form words. The roll of my tongue and the purse of my lips are non-existent. I can’t communicate. My vision adjusts, a ceiling. The scene dulls, the light falling away as my eyes adjust to the faces dashing around and past me. Their mouths are moving, but I am receiving no sound. Well… Apart from that impossible crackle in my ears. Like a thousand tiny feet tapping away inside my ear canals.
“Ugh” I mouth. Trying to talk. The faces become frightened. My arms and legs are tied down. I can see the metal shackles attached to my frail wrists. Bone and sinew showing through pallid skin. I look so ill… And… I’m so hungry.
A man enters the room as everyone else seems to flush out. He sits down beside me. I realise I’m in a bed and he’s on a chair. I must be in hospital. The stench of antiseptic encroaches my nostrils, invading my thoughts.
“He…lp” I try for words, my throat dry as a desert. I need a drink. A drink. Please. I’m so thi…thir… Hungry. The man stares. Clutching a notebook he jots down some notes before staring at me more. I try to move towards him, my vison clouds over and I’m pressed back down onto the bed. I squawk, a croaky noise of surprise at he presses onto my lungs. I feel my ribs buckle under his weight.
“You can hear me right?” He whispers through the crackle of my ears. His voice vile and severe. It held a touch of venom as he pulled off of me and went back to his stare.
“I am going to ask you some questions” He began. His eyes were void of emotion as I squint towards him. Why is my vision so blurry? If only I could rub the grit out of my eyes. I feel terrible. Terrible.
“Who are you?” He speaks in a softer tone now. But it is still edged with his venom.
“I am…” I go to respond but the rest of the sentence doesn’t come. Like my mind has gone blank and crushed into a singularity. Who am I? I can’t remember. I can’t remember who I am. Of all things… who am I? I feel tears well up into my bloodshot eyes. My lip wobbles as I am overcome with a huge wave of emotion. Sadness. Terrified. Worrying. Anger. Who am I?
“I… I… Don’t know…” I fumble with my words. A lump of ache forming in the base of my throat. It threatens to force its way out into a monster of delusions. I bite back. A grimace lacing my features as I rid the emotions from my thoughts. Leave me alone. The man jots down my answer.
“Do you know where you are?” He asks. I want to get out of here. I need to get out. Oh please don’t keep me here. Panic. My lungs pumping the air in and out, in and out. My heart racing and my skin becoming clammy and cold. Help me.
“I don’t know…” My voice trembles as I begin to shake violently.
And that is when the man floats closer. His features still stone cold, stoic and venomous. But in his eyes is the taint of something warmer and calmer. His breath ghosts my ear. “Your safe” His fingers caress the skin and bone of my arm in small soothing circles. My breathing slows as I calm down from the touch of this man. I don’t even know who he is. He ruffles my hair, making sure to delicately touch some strands.
“What are you?” He whispers and pulls away to sit back in his seat. His face back to the mask he carries and his eyes, void of emotion. What am I? What sort of question is that? What am I? As in I’m Japanese? Male? Human?
Flesh. Blood.
Guts. Muscles. Fat.
I’m drooling, it’s uncontrollable. I see him jot down something. His face falling into something close to disappointment.
“You are a Ghoul” He answers for me.